Uconn

Connecticut guard Omar Calhoun (21) and forward Tyler Olander (10) watch as time runs out in a NCAA college basketball game against SMU on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Dallas. Connecticut lost 74-65. (AP Photo/John F. Rhodes)

STORRS — Remember when the UConn men were living somewhat dangerously? Five of their first 12 victories came by single digits, three of them by a single point.

Things have changed. The Huskies (17-4, 5-3 American Athletic Conference) have won their last five games by an average of 21 points. All of them have been decided by at least 10 points, and three of them have featured margins of 23 points or more, including Thursday's 37-point victory against Houston with DeAndre Daniels watching from the bench.

Save for the hammering the Huskies took against Louisville, they have mostly been rolling of late. They are certainly playing their best basketball of the season.

"We're on our way," Ollie said after the thrashing of Houston. "We're trending in the right way."

No doubt. Daniels, while a bit up and down, had been superb at times before getting hurt. Shabazz Napier has been every bit the leader and scoring machine Ollie had hoped. Ryan Boatright is no longer an often out-of-control player. Niels Giffey has shown athleticism nobody knew he had, and Lasan Kromah

See CALHOUN, Page 11B

has been a pleasant surprise.

Amida Brimah is a defensive force. Phil Nolan has had his moments. Freshmen Terrence Samuel and Kentan Facey have been granted increasing playing time and produced. Tyler Olander has reached the ceiling of his abilities, but he turns in mostly solid minutes and, according to Napier, has been a huge help with the young big men on and off the court.

Which leaves Omar Calhoun, the only player who hasn't been along for the ride. This season has been nothing but a struggle for the sophomore who started every game he played last year and averaged 11.1 points.

He has been declared healthy after a pair of offseason hip surgeries, but Calhoun is clearly not the same player. That was evident when he tried to grab a lob pass against Houston and slammed the ball into the rim. The lift just wasn't there. And the doubt on his face when he's playing is obvious.

"We want Omar to get out there and play some good defense, knock down shots and try to get back on track," Ollie said before the Houston game. "It's only a matter of time before he breaks out of the slump and plays the basketball he's capable of playing.

"He's working hard. That's why I think there will be a breakthrough soon."

You have to admire Ollie's optimism, but the signs aren't there. Calhoun's shot has always looked odd, but it is magnified this year by the fact it's not going in. He has been reduced to a bit player, seeing his minutes drop on average from 32.1 last year to 17.6 this year.

It's worse in conference games. In the seven AAC games in which he's played, Calhoun is averaging 13.1 minutes.

On Thursday night, everything went right for all of the Huskies. All of them except Calhoun, that is. He averaged 14 points in the first three games of the season. Since then, he has reached double figures just twice and has had four scoreless games in his last eight. He went scoreless once last season.

Whither Omar Calhoun?

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